MLR 0-11, Naomh Eoin 0-10
By Kevin Regan
Mount Leinster Rangers made it Five Minor Hurling Titles in a row today with a hard fought one point win over a dogged Naomh Eoin side at Netwatch Cullen Park.
It was a very tough encounter from pillar to post, with no quarter given or asked throughout the 60 minutes.
The scoreboard may not have been ticking over frantically in the first half but both sides got stuck in from the off and after a succession of wides for Naomh Eoin, Pauric Slye gave them the lead.
Chris Nolan replied with a free for MLR and this proved to be their only score of the half as River Harmon and Cathal Treacy (2) responded to give Naomh Eoin a 0-4 to 0-1 lead at the break.
The Rangers Management played a trump card at half time by introducing young Ciaran Kavanagh and he fired over three points from play early in the second half.
Naomh Eoin were heavily dependent on Treacy for scores both from frees and play in the second half, as MLR got further scores from Rory Joyce, Niall Lynam and chief marksman Chris Nolan.
With time almost up Naomh Eoin trailed by a point and were awarded a free close to goal. Treacy stepped up and his effort looked to be creeping inside the post but it agonisingly came back off the upright and MLR hung on for victory.
It was extremely hard on Naomh Eoin and young Treacy but he will bounce back and have bigger and better days for both club and county in the future.
MLR have been the best Minor team in the county for the past Five years and in that period they have defeated Four different teams in county finals with St Mullins, Erins Own twice, Ballinkillen and now Naomh Eoin being dispatched on the way to making history.
Gary Lawlor was a deserving winner of the Man of the match award, and captain Donald Coady accepted the Cup from fellow clubman Eddie Byrne.
You can listen back to the post match interview with MLR Mentor Colm O’Byrne by clicking the link below
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